About Dan aka BoostJunkie:

Dan began doing HPDE events in 2004, right after he bought his STi. A family friend suggested that Dan and his dad sign up for an event at VIR. No question, Dan was hooked.

Dan began branching out to other organizations like NASA, Mazdadrivers, Audi Club, Mercedes Club, and TrackDaze.

After he graduated college Dan decided to change the 2005 Subaru from a daily driver into a full time race car. At the beginning of the 2009 season, he completed a NASA TT license evaluation and went on to do a full season in the TTS class. Dan won the season championship for his class. Winning the class championship is a huge accomplishment and shows Dan’s dedication and ability.

The Car:

Every (ok 90%) of STi owners think it wont be necessary to modify their new car and we’re all wrong. Dan is no different and if you have followed Dan’s car over the last few years you know this is true. Dan had the opportunity/pleasure to work with the Myles @ Race Comp Engineering, this was two fold. RCE helped Dan learn the technical aspect of suspension tuning and RCE also began using Dan’s car to test new products on the street and track.

Over the next few years, Dan’s 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi went through many different suspension setups, and continued to modify other aspects of the car as well. Initially the goal was to create the ultimate dual purpose street and track car, and he was able to find a good balance between the two. A year or so ago, Dan got to the point where he was able to turn the car into a purpose built race car. Doing so is alot harder than it sounds. Turning a Street Car into a purpose built race car is more than “gutting and caging”, Dan learned this first hand.

Dan trusted IAG Performance in Westminster, MD with building a custom roll cage. A huge amount of weight was removed from the car, which meant pulling out all of the HVAC components, gutting the doors, and basically taking out everything in the car that wasn’t serving a purpose on track. The incredible increase in chassis stiffness required a suspension setup to match, so a set of JRZ RS Pro dampers were installed. IAG rolled and pulled the fenders to make room for a set of 275/35/18 Hoosier R6′s mounted on Enkei NT03+M’s in 18×9.5 +40. Leaving no aspect of the car’s setup untouched, a SARD carbon kevlar wing and a custom alumalite front splitter were installed to add some much needed downforce. Dan spent many hours stripping the cabin wiring harness and rewiring most of the electrical components to reduce weight.

Once the car was back together, Dan focused on dialing in the new suspension and getting used to driving the car. Dan’s lap times continued to shorten once Dan started fine tuning the new JRZ RS Pro’s. The car was now able to compete with the front runners in its class, and with a win and a second place finish in the two races during the second to last race weekend of the year, Dan had secured the TTS Championship.

The final race weekend of the season at Summit Point started off well, and Dan took second place on Saturday behind a very fast Corvette Z06. During the Sunday morning warm-up, the car suffered a brake line failure while entering Turn 1 at nearly 150mph. The car entered the gravel trap sideways and rolled 3 times, landing on the other side of the tire wall. Miraculously, Dan suffered only minor injuries and was able to climb of the car under his own power. The car, on the other hand, was damaged beyond repair. However, Dan already has started to rebuild the car, and already has a GD Impreza chassis to work with. With any luck, we will see a new and improved version of the car during the 2010 season.

Sponsors:

RaceComp Engineering:
Dan’s relationship with RaceComp Engineering goes back to 2005, when he began working there. Throughout the years, they have provided many parts for the car, including their swaybars, kool brake kit, GTWorx camber plates, and many parts from other manufacturers. They have also provided a great deal of input for chassis setup. Myles Williams, the company’s founder, has given Dan personal driver coaching, drawing on his many years of racing experience.

IAG Performance:
IAG Performance in Westminster, MD came on board as a sponsor about a year ago. They have done extensive fabrication work on the car, including the construction of the roll cage. They have also provided their header and external wastegate uppipe, as well as a few miscellaneous parts. IAG has performed much of the maintenance work on the car, including regular alignments, tire mounting and balancing, and ECU tuning. They have committed to being a key part of the build process for the new car, and even provided the chassis as a starting point. Their meticulous attention to detail produces incredible results, and their support has been essential to Dan’s success over the past season.

JRZ Suspension Engineering:
JRZ joined this project in the middle of the 2009 season, providing a set of their 2-way adjustable RS Pro dampers. They are externally adjustable for both compression and rebound, and also feature remote fluid canisters and adjustable nitrogen pressure. Their build quality and performance are both outstanding. Bryan Hise, the east coast representative for JRZ USA, has offered invaluable support and setup help.

Stoptech:
Stoptech provided one of their front big brake kits for this project, featuring ST-60 6 piston calipers and 355x32mm rotors. They have also offered ongoing support, supplying replacement rotors and a great deal of expertise pertaining to pad selection, operating temperatures, and more. Dan plans to continue his relationship with Stoptech and use one of their big brake kits on his new STi build.

Kaminari Aerodynamics/Racetech North America:
This past season, Kaminari supplied a set of their race lateral links, featuring 6061-T6 seamless tubing and rod ends that are rated at 28,000 lbs. They also provided a pair of their brake duct inlets, essential in feeding cool air to the front brakes. Dan also uses a Racetech RT4009HR seat, although he purchased it before his sponsorship agreement with Racetech North America. He is looking forward to working with them on his new project, as the quality of both their aerodynamic and mechanical parts is top notch.

Dan’s 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi was an amazing car and we all were stunned when we heard of his accident. Dan being “Ok” after his accident says a lot about Subaru and IAG’s cage work. This is a risk all of us take while we’re track our cars but we can choose to build and own safe cars.

The Mod list you’re about to scroll through looks more like a wishlist of the average STI owner. I can’t wait to see the new car once it is complete. (Scroll down for a few teaser shots of the new car).

Mod List:

Engine:

-Element Tuning GT52 turbo
-APS DR525 Intercooler
-Deatsch Werks 850cc Injectors
-GTSpec Equal Length Header
-IAG EWG Uppipe/Dumptube
-Tial 44mm Wastegate
-Mocal Oil Cooler/Thermostat
-Covert Performance Fuel Surge Tank
-Bosch Motorsport 044 External Fuel Pump
-Perrin Turbo Inlet
-APS 70mm CAI
-TGV Deletes
-Grimmspeed 8mm Phenolic Intake Manifold Spacers
-Element Tuning Competition Catch Can
-Koyo Aluminum Radiator
-Samco Radiator Hoses
-Invidia Bellmouth Downpipe
-Invidia N1 Race Full Titanium Catback
-Prodrive Boost Control Solenoid
-AEM 3.5 bar MAP Sensor w/ Cobb Adapter
-Cobb Accessport Version 2
-Protuned by Jorge at P&L
-374whp/365wtq (93 octane)
-419whp/437wtq (Sunoco GT100)
-Turbosmart Dual Port BOV
-Cusco Engine Mounts
-Walbro 255lph In-Tank Fuel Pump
-NGK 1 Step Colder Plugs
-Crucial Racing Thermostat
-Odyssey PC680 w/ Billet Mount

Suspension/Brakes:

-JRZ RS Pro Dampers
-GTWorx Camber Plates F+R
-Hyperco Main Springs/Swift Helper Springs
-Q-rack 11.5:1 Steering Rack
-RCE 25.5mm Adjustable Swaybars
-Kaminari Race Lateral Links
-Covert Performance Subframe
-Kartboy Rear Endlinks
-Whiteline Sport ALK
-Whiteline Roll Center Kit
-Whiteline Plus Trailing Link/Front Control Arm Bushings
-Kartboy Botox Bolts
-Greddy Front Strut Bar
-Stoptech 6-Piston 355mm Front BBK
-Cobb SS Rear Brake Lines
-Hawk DTC-70 pads
-Motul RBF600 Fluid
-RCE Kool Brake Kit
-Cusco Master Cylinder Brace

Transmission:

-Exedy Stage 1 Clutch
-STi Short Shifter
-Kartboy Front/Rear Shifter Bushings
-Cusco Transmission Mount
-Kartboy Subframe Outrigger Bushings
-TiC Rear Diff Mount Bushings

Wheels/Tires:

-Enkei NT03+M – 18×9.5 +40 w/ Hoosier R6 – 275/35/18 (dry)
-Enkei NT03+M – 18×9.5 +40 w/ Hoosier Radial Wets – 275/35/18 (wet)

Shop for Hoosier tires at Tire Rack.

Exterior:

-Cusco Front Lip
-Custom Alumalite front splitter
-SARD Carbon Kevlar Wing
-Kaminari Brake Duct Inlets
-Lightwerkz TSX Projector Headlight Retrofit
-Craft Square Carbon Fiber Side Mirrors
-Varis Carbon Fiber Exhaust Shield
-KS-Tech Hood Vent
-Sparco Hood Pins
-OEM WRX Sideskirts
-Rennline Front Tow Hook
-NRG Hood Struts
-Autospeed Front Bumper Trim
-Blue Batmobile Taillight Overlays
-Black i Badge
-Custom Vinyl by IAG Performance

Interior:

-Racetech RT4009HR Seat
-IAG Performance Custom Rollcage
-Schroth Profi II-Y Harness
-OMP Targa Steering Wheel
-Sparco Steering Wheel Hub/Quick Release
-Amerex 2.5lb. Halon Fire Extinguisher w/ Brey Krause Mount
-Defi Amber BF Boost/EGT/Oil Press. Gauges
-Allview Racers Mirror
-Custom Carbon Fiber Switch Panel
-Custom Lightweight Wiring Harness
-Gutted Doors w/ Removable Front Windows
-Removed A/C and Heater Core
-Removed Intercooler Sprayer System
-Removed All Interior Panels/Carpet/Sound Deadening, Gutted Stock Dash
-Lathe Werks Copolymer Shift Knob

As always don’t hesitate to post comments/questions.

-t3h_Clap

I’ve got the current Top Scoob himself Logan here to chit chat about his setup a little. This car looks amazing. skip the small talk, here is Top Scoob Logan’s GR Subaru Impreza WRX STI with 18×10 Advan RZ’s.

T3h_Clap: First things first, is this your first Subaru? if not, what are some of your other/older Subarus?

Logan: Yes actually, this is my first to car heavily mod. I was just planning on going stage 2 because I wanted something reliable and turbod and exhaust, but the Subaru mod fever struck.

T3h_Clap: why the GR STi?
Logan: I wanted a new engine to work with. Something that someone hasn’t done a thousand times. So I got the new body style to create something different and I knew it would be fresh. I love the GD chassis, but i hope Subaru discontinues the hatchback sti soon. I want it to only be made two years. Kind of hoping its just a random quirky Subaru that wasn’t over populated and over viewed. haha if that makes sense.

T3h_Clap: What did you build the car for? (Street/Track/Dual/Drag/Autox etc?)
Logan: Daily Driving, but the Track is where I am headed, so that’s my next step in plans. Since I lived in Missouri, there are not any places to track, now in Florida I am trying to find some tracks besides Daytona.

T3h_Clap: What are the specs on your wheels/Tires? Any special requirements to get them to fit?
Logan: the wheels are Advan Rz 18×10 +30 tires are nexen 3000 (****ty tires, cause wheels cost too much ha) 275/35/18 and all four fenders are rolled to fit. Camber is -2.5 front -2.4 back. My ride height is just above slammed on the bc coils.

T3h_Clap: Any plans on going to a wider wheel/tire?
Logan: As soon as I finish school plan on fitting some 18x11s on there with 295s or 305s. Just to say it can be done, but obviously not for tracking.

T3h_Clap: Any plans doing competitive racing?
Logan: Not really, since I’m still in college for recording arts and music business, I’m going to pursue this for a while and the keep the cars hobbies and fun for now, would deff get out there when i have some down time at some Time Attack events or something. that would be the ****.

T3h_Clap: Where can people see the car? (meets/shows/track events?)
Logan: Every week down in Orlando, there is a Wednesday night meet at the sonic on south Semoran. And there is an AWD meet coming up. Also look for my car in Modified Mag thanks to Peter.

T3h_Clap: Quick blurb about you and your car, any notable hang ups, funny stories.
Logan: This car has been the biggest pain in the ass, but the most love owning it. Hauling it up to Chicago and watching Jorge drive away in your car after being tuned and watching it rip down the road. Makes me smile real big! But OMG! every install something weird and out of the ordinary pops up and causes problems. But that’s part of it being a Subaru I guess.

T3h_Clap: Shout out to Friends, Forums, Blogs, Sponsors, Vendors, Photogs, Family.
Logan: I would like to thank,
My family and friends!
Jorge and the whole crew at P and L Motorsports
Josh from importimage
Bryan from CVR Motorsports
Dave at SKPerformance
Perrin
TIC

Great looking car, not hard to see why he won the Top Scoob title for best GR on Nasioc.

This is one hell of a mod list:

Engine & Exhaust:

Pro tuned by jorge at P & L
Accessport Engine Management
Invidia N1 Race
Cobb Lightened Pulley
SPT Oil Cap
Samco Radiator Hoses
SPT Battery Tie Down
EBCS
Royal Purple 5W-30
Subtle Radiator Shroud
P&L FMIC
GT35R Rotated .82 A/R
P&L CAI
P&L Catless DP (ceramic coated)
P&L EWG Up Pipe (ceramic coated)
Perrin EL Headers (ceramic coated)
Pnp Intake Manifold
TGV Deletes (ceramic coated)
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
Tial 44mm Wastegate
Tial 50mm BOV
Deatschwerks 850cc Injectors
NGK Iridium Plugs
Perrin Catch Can

Interior:

Bride Cuga Front Seats
Bride Door Pulls
Bride Shift Boot
Bride eBrake Boot
Bride Center Arm Rest
Wedge Engineering Rails
Prosport Gauges:
Boost
Oil Pressure
Oil Temp
EGT
AEM Uego Wideband AFR
JL HD Amp with Custom sub enclosure with 12″ JL Sub
JL Cleansweep (to keep my Nav)
STI Red Pedal Kit
Painted Interior Pieces
DIY A-pillar Triple Pod
Viper 5901 Alarm System
Alcantara wrapped Steering Wheel

Drivetrain:

Cobb Double Adjustable short shifter
Kartboy Front Shifter Bushings
SPT Rear Shifter Bushing
Cobb Knob
IXIS Clutch Optimizer
Group N Tranny Mount
Group N Motor Mounts
Kartboy Crossmember Bushings
Kartboy Pitch Stop
ACT HD Street Clutch
Motul Gear300
Motul 90PA Rear Diff Fluid

Exterior:

Seibon CF CW Hood – Painted
CS Bottom Line Kit – Painted
15% Tint
Hella Supertones – Painted
Painted Grill
Painted Fog Light Housings
RA Mudflaps – trimmed
DRL Delete
Rally Yellow Fog Overlays
ROLLED FENDERS
Rear Wiper Delete
Perrin Shorty Antennae
BlueBatMobile Tail Covers
Angel Eyes from Lightwerkz
Smoked Headlight Relfectors
Smoked Rear Reflectors
Painted Logos/Badges
Nukabe Tow Hook
CF Front Bumper Vents

Wheels & Suspension:

BC Racing Coilovers
Advan RZ 18×10 +30 in Gunmetal
Nexen N3000 275/35/18
Whiteline Camber Bolts
Front Camber Bolts
Whiteline Rear Subframe Inserts
Perrin Strut Brace
Perrin 22mm F Sway Bar
Perrin 22mm R Sway Bar
5Zigen Locking Lugs Blue

-T3h_Clap

Turn-In-Concept SST Coilovers

TiC’s Strut assemblies are made by AST to TiC SST specifications. TiC offers their coilovers with Swift Main Springs, Swift Helper Springs, and Swift Thrust Washers. I chose to go with the Vorshlag Camber Plates front and rear as well. They also come with a very detailed document on the assembly and care of your new suspension (rare to find that now-a-days).

This specific set of TiC SSTs runs the same setup as their Time Attack winning WRX with stiffer and shorter Swift Springs. I’ll be running 9k front and 8k rear, both front and rear are 6″ Springs. Once Clint & Tony knew the ride height and planned use for the suspension we custom tailored the spring choice to meet my needs.  Thank you again Clint and Tony!

Now More Pictures!

Below you’ll see some more snap shots of the 6″ 9k/8k Swift Main Springs, Swift Helper Springs, and Vorshlag Camber plates.

Vorshlag Camber plates were chosen because of their short stack height and additional caster. Along with the Whiteline offset caster bushings I should be able to maximize caster without having too much.

Still working out the final alignment and ride height settings.

Shooting for around -3.0 front and -1.7 to -1.8 rear camber and as much Caster as we get.

Car will be corner balanced so the ride height wont be exact but we’re shooting for about 14″ front 13.75″ rear + or – .25″

Everything is coming together, stay tuned!

I’ll be putting together a few articles with the build progress and parts accumulation.

The build is going to be a simple STU build. Suspension, Bushings, Wheels, Tires and Driver tuning.

Round 1: Bushings, Mounts, Shifter from Turn In Concepts

As you see we’ve got a nice little box of goodies going in.

Turn In Concepts sent out the first round of goodies, and I couldn’t be happier!

Thank you again Clint and Tony.

Looking forward to the day I can get the new bushings and mounts installed.

July 2nd 2009; Ordered a set of TiC SSTs with custom spring rates and more bushings from Turn In Concepts.

Also, just got off the Phone with the Earl @ Touge Factory and put down the deposit for the new Wheels.

Busy lunch hour. haha.

Stay tuned for more updates.

-t3h_clap

Chris, aka. boondocksaint, has one of the cleanest 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi’s in the nation. No need for a fancy body kit or crazy paint job. The only stickers on the car are his alumni sticker and an oil change reminder.

Chris’s car has a very special, very rare set of Prodrive wheels – the only set in this specific size/color in the states. The suspension is one of the most sought after setups in the Subaru community, not only because of its quality parts and design, but because it excels at nearly everything it does. Chris’s thoughtful and planned modification path has yielded a car that not only looks amazing, but also handles and performs with the best of them. Now he just needs to tighten the nut behind the wheel.

I had a chance to bounce a few PM’s back and forth with Chris prior to writing this article and here is what he had to say during the T3h_Clap interrogation.

T3h_Clap: What is the Current Suspension Setup and Settings?
Boony: TiC SST coilovers, Whiteline 24mm adjustable swaybars (front and rear), Kartboy swaybar endlinks (front and rear), Vorshlag camber plates (front and rear), Ingalls camber bolts (front and rear), CarLabs X-Brace
Sway settings: full soft on each for now
Damper settings (from full stiff): F -8, R -10 (for now)
Ride Height: Front 14″, Rear 13.5″
Alignment: Fr -1.5 (more with me in it), Rear -1.5
Toe is DEAD straight.

T3h_Clap: Any future modifications planned?
Boony: I need to do something with brakes and get corner balanced. And, at some point, I should do some power mods.

T3h_Clap: What is your Current Wheel and Tire Setup and Settings?
Boony: Prodrive GC-06H 17″ x 8.5″, +51 offset, ~16lbs each
Falken RT615 in 255/40-17
Tire Pressures: 40psi F, 37psi R
Strut Clearance: a little less than a finger width front and rear between the tire and the lower perch – doesn’t rub, but doesn’t miss by much…

T3h_Clap: What are your planned uses for the car?
Boony: Daily driving, open track days, and the occasional road trip back home to the South.

T3h_Clap: Did you set your car up for anything specific?
Boony: My car was intended to be 95% daily driver and 5% track day toy. I do not autocross at all, nor do I drag race. Road courses only. To that end, I wanted to run slightly wider rubber (I think 255 is as good a compromise between street/track as I can get) and keep some style. I needed the car to be a bit more neutral while still retaining just a bit of understeer for safety and because the car is far more capable than am I. I chose the coilovers for their ability to excel on the street and at the track. Even though stiff springs would increase track performance, the car is primarily daily driven. It is currently more comfortable than stock despite having spring rates 50% stiffer than stock.

T3h_Clap: How are your tire clearances with the TiC Coilovers and the Prodrive wheels?
Boony: Tire-to-strut clearance (actually the lower perch) is only enough to squeeze my finger between them. It’s damn close. Without the camber bolts at full positive, there would be contact. I am considering a 5mm spacer and extended studs for next year, but am still researching my options. It would allow me to run more negative camber.

T3h_Clap: Last but not least a list of sponsors/vendors/people you want to mention/thank.
Boony: Long list, in chronological order:
IWSTI.com, as it is an invaluable resource on these cars without the boy-racer attitude. GarageSpec.com and TurninConcepts.com for their help getting the wheels and suspension hooked up. CarLabs, for such an awesome, effective brace. Penguin Garage and T3h_Clap for help getting everything exactly right, and for the spoiler. AutoEurope in Berkely, MI, for mounting my tires without screwing up my wheels and for balancing them properly, and my super-secret alignment guy. Yes, I was aligned manually with string, a ruler, slip plates, and a spreadsheet. Nandan, my photographer, for the amazing photos. Lastly, all my friends in the community who have helped me learn, modify, and tweak my car – thanks to you all.

Since this Interview, Chris has replaced his RT615s with a fresh set of Bridgestone RE01Rs in the same size (255/40/17). And yes, the clearances are still tight. Chris will be tracking his car over the summer.

More Photos: